Difference between revisions of "Honduras"

<p> A maritime republic of Central America, whose northern seaboard fronts the [[Gulf]] of [[Honduras]] in the Caribbean Sea, between [[Nicaragua]] on the S. and SE. and [[Guatemala]] on the W., less than four-fifths the size of England; the coast lands are low and swampy, but the interior consists chiefly of elevated tableland diversified by broad rich valleys; the [[Cordilleras]] traverse the country in a NW. direction, and form the watershed of many streams; fever prevails along the low, hot coast, but the highlands are cool and healthful; large numbers of cattle are raised, and fruits, india-rubber, indigo, &c., are exported, but agriculture is backward; its mineral wealth is very great; silver ore is abundant, and other minerals, such as gold, iron, copper, but the enterprise is wanting to the carrying out of mining on a proper scale; Honduras broke away from Spain in 1821, and became an independent State in 1839; the [[Government]] is vested in a [[President]] and six ministers, and the legislative power in a [[Congress]] of 37 members; the population is, with the exception of a few thousands, composed of blacks; [[Tegucigalpa]] is the capital. </p>